Structured Design Methodology

The Design Submission Through Prototype

Complete the design validation review

Once the simulations are completed, the entire circuit package should
be reviewed for completeness. This is a preliminary design acceptance
review.

AMCC currently provides a Design Validation form that identifies areas
that are characteristically problems in a design submission, a list of
items that previous design submissions had in error.

After AMCCERC errors, timing check errors and AMCCVRC errors have been
resolved, the designer should work through the checks in the Design Validation
section of the design manual. These are checks that have not yet been
or can never be automated. The questionnaire is incorporated into AMCCSUBMIT,
a design submission program that queries the designer for file names and
conditions, and produces reports for use in design submission.

For array vendors without such a list or automated support, review the
submission procedures and the array design rules.

Complete the design submission checklist

The array vendor will have a submission procedure, a list of the files
and documents required for submission before the vendor can accept the
design and proceed to layout.

Check off the required items as they are assembled into the package.
A design cannot be submitted without the completion of the required items.
Optional items must be complete if the option is chosen. Last of all,
make sure some media index exists in both media and hardcopy form that
identifies what is in the submission package.

AMCC has created a generic design submission form as a first step in
creating a user-interface automation of the design submission - design
validation process. It and its accompanying document detail what is required
to be submitted in hardcopy and what is to be submitted on media (disk
or tape). (The first version of the form is now part of AMCCSUBMIT.)

AMCCSUBMIT generates a report that alerts the reviewer to problem areas
in the design or the design submission package.

Submit the circuit - acceptance design review

When the design submission package is complete, submit it. The vendor
will review the package for completeness and correctness. The submission
will include all pre-approved design waivers negotiated before submission.

If everything has been done according to the vendor's rules, the
design will be accepted and move into its proposed schedule.

If only minor things are missing or incorrect, the array vendor may
make the changes under the designer's approval.

If serious errors or omissions exist, the design may be rejected,
i.e., returned to the designer with instructions on what is missing
or incorrect.

Implementation Engineering - the Array Vendor

On design acceptance, the Implementation Engineer assigned to the design
will rerun all simulations against the in-house library. The object is
to identify any macro design changes implemented after the library release
date that would affect the design under review.

A second objective is to verify that the circuit used on the schematics,
netlist and simulations all match since it is easy to violate file consistency.